Sail For Gold Regatta 2013 - Final call for entries

Sailors still to enter the RYA’s flagship, Sail for Gold Regatta 2013 are reminded they have up until midnight tomorrow (Friday 31 March) for entry.

The event, which is to be held on the Olympic and Paralympic waters of Weymouth and Portland and run by the Royal Yachting Association and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, is offering a discounted entry fee along with reduced-fare ferry deals to the UK thanks to a tie-up with DFDS Seaways and Stena Line.

The entry list for this third stage of the Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup currently boasts three gold medallists from last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as handful of medal winning sailors who will also be returning back to Weymouth and Portland for the first time since last summer’s showcase of sailing at WPNSA.

British Sailing Team’s Helena Lucas, who was crowned Paralympic 2.4mR champion last summer, will be gunning for gold once again but will face stiff competition from fellow teammate Megan Pascoe who clinched event honours in front of Lucas by a single point at last week’s Dutch leg of the Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup. WPNSA will also welcome back the Netherlands trio of Udo Hessels, Marcel van de Veen and Mischa Rossen who wrapped up gold with a day to spare in the Sonar class at the 2012 Paralympic regatta.

In the Laser Radial class, currently the largest fleet of regatta boasting more than 40 sailors, China’s London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Lijia XU will be back in action and looking to improve upon her 15th at the Hyeres World Cup regatta which was her first event back since making history by becoming China´s and Asia´s first laser radial sailing gold medallist. Hot on her heels will be British Sailing Team’s Alison Young who will be eager to continue her momentum and run of fine form of three podium finishes from her last three regattas.

Sail for Gold Event Director Tim Hall commented: ' The event is shaping up to be a fantastic week of racing across the eight Olympic and three Paralympic classes with some big name sailors in attendance. Competitors can call upon the experience of a World Class Race Management Team to ensure a top quality racing experience and can look forward to sailing at the renowned venue of WPNSA which is notoriously well-known for hosting World Class Sailing events.

'With the entries closing at midnight tomorrow, we urge all interested sailors to finalise their plans as soon as possible and to also take advantage of the reduced-fare ferry deals to the UK thanks to a tie-up with DFDS Seaways and Stena Line. The venue will be free of charge for training for all competing sailors from Monday 3rd June giving sailors the chance to go over any last minute routines in Weymouth Bay or Portland Harbour before the racing kicks off on Sunday nineth June.'

Booking codes and details of the DFDS Seaways and Stena Line discounts will be made available to sailors and registered event coaches on entry to the regatta.

Entries for the event can be made via the event websiteand must be received no later than 31st May 2013.